Image scanning

ABSTRACT

Briefly, in accordance with one or more embodiments, a image scanning may be performed on one or more documents.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.10/226,199, filed Aug. 23, 2002. The entire disclosure of priorapplication Ser. No. 10/226,199 is considered as being part of thedisclosure of the present application and is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates in general to image scanning and outputting.

2. Description of the Related Art

Image scanners are known as essential devices in a variety of personalcomputer peripherals. Referring to FIG. 1, a flow chart of aconventional image scanning method is shown. The conventional scanningmethod includes following approaches. In the first step 110, a driver isactuated. Accordingly, in the step 120, a document to be scanned on ascan flat bed is pre-scanned for one time by a scanning module driven bythe driver to generate an original image. Subsequently, in the step 130,parameter settings of the original image, such as brightness, shadow,and contrast settings, are adjusted by the user to generate a pre-viewimage. In the step 140, the document to be scanned is then scannedaccording to the pre-view image by the image scanner. Lastly, in thestep 150, the image scanning process is completed to generate a scanningimage.

As described above, in the conventional image scanning method, thedocument to be scanned is pre-scanned firstly to generate an originalimage. A preview image is then generated by adjusting parameter settingsof the original image, such as brightness, shadow, and contrast setting.Lastly, the document to be scanned is scanned to generate the scanningimage with the set of parameters of the pre-view image and complete thescanning process.

However, only one pre-view image with the adjusted parameter setting andonly one set of parameters corresponding to the pre-view image arestored after the pre-scanning operation. When the only set of parametersis applied to the original image generated by pre-scanning anotherdocument to be scanned, only one pre-view image of another document tobe scanned with the only set of parameters will be generated.

Consequently, the conventional image scanning method has the followingdisadvantages:

1. The scanning time is too long. The parameter settings of the previousdocument to be scanned fail to be applied to a new document to bescanned for outputting several scanning images with the same set ofparameters. Therefore, the parameter settings should be adjusted againwhenever a new document is to be scanned, which increases the scanningtime.

2. It is easy to make mistakes during the operation of adjustingparameter settings again. To adjust parameter settings again not onlycomplicates the scanning process but also makes the new adjustedparameter settings inconsistent with the parameter settings of theprevious documents easily.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide an image scanningmethod, so that the scanning time can be shorten without the need ofadjusting the parameter settings again.

According to the objective of the invention, an image scanning methodfor an image scanner is provided. The image scanning method includespre-scanning a first document to generate a first original imageaccording to the first document; adjusting parameter settings of thefirst original image to generate and store a plurality of pre-viewimages corresponding to different sets of parameters; pre-scanning asecond document to generate a second original image according to thesecond document; and scanning the second document to generate aplurality of scanning images with different sets of parameters of thepre-view images. The parameter settings of the first original imageinclude brightness, shadow, and contrast settings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description of the preferred butnon-limiting embodiments. The description is made with reference to theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a flow chart showing a conventional image scanning method;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of the image scanning method according to apreferred embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 2, a flow chart of the image scanning method accordingto a preferred embodiment of the invention is shown, which includes thefollowing procedures. In the first step 205, a driver is actuated.Accordingly, in the step 210, a first document to be scanned on a scanflat bed is pre-scanned for one time by a scanning module driven by thedriver to generate an original image of the first document.Subsequently, in the step 215, parameter settings such as brightness,shadow, and contrast settings are adjusted according to the originalimage of the first document by the user to generate multiple pre-viewimages and then multiple sets of parameters are stored. In the step 220,a second document to be scanned on the scan flat bed is pre-scanned forone time and an original image of the second document is generated inthe step 225. Furthermore, in-the step 230, the stored set of parametersis applied to the original image of the second document to generate apre-view image of the second document, and then the pre-view image andthe set of parameters are stored. In the step 235, the image scannerdetermines whether any other set of parameters is detected or not. Ifnot, the method proceeds to the step 240. If any other set of parametersis detected, the method goes back to the step 225. In the step 240,different sets of parameters defined by the user are applied to generatemultiple preview images of the second document. In the step 245, thesecond document is scanned according to the parameter settings of thesepre-view images of the second document by the image scanner. In the laststep 250, the pre-view images with different sets of parameters of thesecond document are used in the image scanning to generate scanningimages with different sets of parameters and the scanning process iscompleted.

It is noticed that all the parameter settings such as brightness,shadow, and contrast settings of the pre-view images according to thesecond document can be obtained from the parameter settings of thepre-view images according to the first document. The main spirit of theimage scanning method according to the invention is capable of storingmultiple pre-view images and multiple corresponding sets of parametersat a time. Moreover, the stored parameters can be applied again to theoriginal image generated by pre-scanning a new document to be scanned.

The method according to the invention, all the original images and thepreview images can be displayed by a display interface. The displayinterface can be a display window.

In the preferred embodiment described herein, the advantages ofaccording to the invention are as below:

1. The scanning time is shortened. The parameter settings according tothe previous documents can be applied again to a new document to bescanned for outputting several scanning images with the same set ofparameter settings, so that the scanning time can be shortened.

2. The parameter settings for a new document to be scanned need not tobe adjusted again and therefore no mistake will be made. Not only thescanning process can be simplified but also the new adjusted parametersettings will be consistent with the parameter settings of the previousdocuments.

While the invention has been described by way of example and in terms ofthe preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention isnot limited to the disclosed embodiment. To the contrary, it is intendedto cover various modifications and similar arrangements and procedures,and the scope of the appended claims therefore should be accorded thebroadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications andsimilar arrangements and procedures.

1. A method, comprising: pre-scanning a first document to generate afirst original image of the first document; adjusting parameter settingsof the first original image to generate one or more pre-view imagescorresponding to one or more sets of one or more parameters;pre-scanning a second document to generate a second original image ofthe second document; and generating one or more scanning images based atleast in part on the one or more sets of one or more parameters of theone or more pre-view images of the second document.
 2. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the parameter settings comprise one ormore of the following: brightness, shadow, and/or contrast settings, orcombinations thereof.
 3. The method according to claim 1, furthercomprising displaying the first original image, the pre-view images,and/or the second original image.
 4. An apparatus, comprising: means forpre-scanning a first document to generate a first original image of thefirst document; means for adjusting parameter settings of the firstoriginal image to generate one or more pre-view images corresponding toone or more sets of one or more parameters; means for pre-scanning asecond document to generate a second original image of the seconddocument; and means for generating one or more scanning images based atleast in part on the one or more sets of one or more parameters of theone or more pre-view images of the second document.
 5. The apparatusaccording to claim 4, wherein the parameter settings comprise one ormore of the following: brightness, shadow, and/or contrast settings, orcombinations thereof.
 6. The apparatus according to claim 4, furthercomprising means for displaying the first original image, the pre-viewimages, and/or the second original image.
 7. An image scanner,comprising: a scanning module driver capable of: pre-scanning a firstdocument to generate a first original image of the first document;adjusting parameter settings of the first original image to generate oneor more pre-view images corresponding to one or more sets of one or moreparameters; pre-scanning a second document to generate a second originalimage of the second document; and generating one or more scanning imagesbased at least in part on the one or more sets of one or more parametersof the one or more pre-view images of the second document.
 8. The imagescanner according to claim 7, wherein the parameter settings compriseone or more of the following: brightness, shadow, and/or contrastsettings, or combinations thereof.
 9. The image scanner according toclaim 7, further comprising a display interface capable of displayingthe first original image, the pre-view images, and/or the secondoriginal image.
 10. A method, comprising: pre-scanning a first documentto generate a first original image of the first document; adjustingparameter settings of the first original image to generate one or moresets of one or more parameters; applying the one or more sets of one ormore parameters to the first original image to generate one or morepre-view images of the first document; pre-scanning a second document togenerate a second original image of the second document; applying theone or more sets of one or more parameters to the second original imageto generate one or more pre-view images of the second document; andgenerating one or more scanning images of the second document based atleast in part on the one or more pre-view images of the second document.11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the parameter settingscomprise one or more of the following: brightness, shadow, and/orcontrast settings, or combinations thereof.
 12. The method according toclaim 10, further comprising displaying the first original image, thepre-view images, and/or the second original image.
 13. The methodaccording to claim 10, further comprising storing the one or more setsof one or more parameters as adjusted.
 14. The method according to claim10, wherein the one or more pre-view images of the first documentcomprise two or more pre-view images of the first document; wherein theone or more sets of one or more parameters comprise two or more sets oftwo or more parameters; and wherein the one or more pre-view images ofthe second document comprise two or more pre-view images of the seconddocument.
 15. The method according to claim 10, further comprising:determining if another one or more sets of one or more parameters isdetected; applying the another one or more sets of one or moreparameters to the second original image to generate one or more pre-viewimages of the second document; and generating a scanning image of thesecond document based at least in part on the one or more pre-viewimages of the second document.
 16. The method according to claim 10,further comprising: storing the one or more sets of parameters asadjusted; wherein the one or more pre-view images of the first documentcomprise two or more pre-view images of the first document; wherein theone or more sets of one or more parameters comprises two or more sets oftwo or more parameters; wherein the one or more pre-view images of thesecond document comprise two or more pre-view images of the seconddocument; determining if another one or more sets of one or moreparameters is detected; applying the another one or more sets of one ormore parameters to the second original image to generate one or morepre-view images of the second document; and generating a scanning imageof the second document based at least in part on the one or morepre-view images of the second document.
 17. An apparatus, comprising:means for pre-scanning a first document to generate a first originalimage of the first document; means for adjusting parameter settings ofthe first original image to generate one or more sets of one or moreparameters; means for applying the one or more sets of one or moreparameters to the first original image to generate one or more pre-viewimages of the first document; means for pre-scanning a second documentto generate a second original image of the second document; means forapplying the one or more sets of one or more parameters to the secondoriginal image to generate one or more pre-view images of the seconddocument; and means for generating one or more scanning images of thesecond document based at least in part on the one or more pre-viewimages of the second document.
 18. The apparatus according to claim 17,wherein the parameter settings comprise one or more of the following:brightness, shadow, and/or contrast settings, or combinations thereof.19. The apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising means fordisplaying the first original image, the pre-view images, and/or thesecond original image.
 20. The apparatus according to claim 17, furthercomprising means for storing the one or more sets of one or moreparameters as adjusted.
 21. The apparatus according to claim 17, whereinthe one or more pre-view images of the first document comprise two ormore pre-view images of the first document; wherein the one or more setsof one or more parameters comprise two or more sets of two or moreparameters; and wherein the one or more pre-view images of the seconddocument comprise two or more pre-view images of the second document.22. The apparatus according to claim 17, further comprising: means fordetermining if another one or more sets of one or more parameters isdetected; means for applying the another one or more sets of one or moreparameters to the second original image to generate one or more pre-viewimages of the second document; and means for generating a scanning imageof the second document based at least in part on the one or morepre-view images of the second document.
 23. The apparatus according toclaim 17, further comprising: means for storing the one or more sets ofparameters as adjusted; wherein the one or more pre-view images of thefirst document comprise two or more pre-view images of the firstdocument; wherein the one or more sets of one or more parameterscomprises two or more sets of two or more parameters; wherein the one ormore pre-view images of the second document comprise two or morepre-view images of the second document; means for determining if anotherone or more sets of one or more parameters is detected; means forapplying the another one or more sets of one or more parameters to thesecond original image to generate one or more pre-view images of thesecond document; and means for generating a scanning image of the seconddocument based at least in part on the one or more pre-view images ofthe second document.
 24. An image scanner, comprising: a scanning moduledriver capable of: pre-scanning a first document to generate a firstoriginal image of the first document; adjusting parameter settings ofthe first original image to generate one or more sets of one or moreparameters; applying the one or more sets of one or more parameters tothe first original image to generate one or more pre-view images of thefirst document; pre-scanning a second document to generate a secondoriginal image of the second document; applying the one or more sets ofone or more parameters to the second original image to generate one ormore pre-view images of the second document; and generating one or morescanning images of the second document based at least in part on the oneor more pre-view images of the second document.
 25. The image scanneraccording to claim 24, wherein the parameter settings comprise one ormore of the following: brightness, shadow, and/or contrast settings, orcombinations thereof.
 26. The image scanner according to claim 24,further comprising a display interface capable of displaying the firstoriginal image, the pre-view images, and/or the second original image.27. The image scanner according to claim 24, wherein the scanning moduledriver is further capable of storing the one or more sets of one or moreparameters as adjusted.
 28. The image scanner according to claim 24,wherein the one or more preview images of the first document comprisetwo or more pre-view images of the first document; wherein the one ormore sets of one or more parameters comprise two or more sets of two ormore parameters; and wherein the one or more pre-view images of thesecond document comprise two or more pre-view images of the seconddocument.
 29. The image scanner according to claim 24, wherein thescanning module driver is further capable of: determining if another oneor more sets of one or more parameters is detected; applying the anotherone or more sets of one or more parameters to the second original imageto generate one- or more pre-view images of the second document; andgenerating a scanning image of the second document based at least inpart on the one or more pre-view images of the second document.
 30. Theimage scanner according to claim 24, wherein the scanning module driveris further capable of: storing the one or more sets of parameters asadjusted; wherein the one or more pre-view images of the first documentcomprise two or more pre-view images of the first document; wherein theone or more sets of one or more parameters comprises two or more sets oftwo or more parameters; wherein the one or more pre-view images of thesecond document comprise two or more pre-view images of the seconddocument; determining if another one or more sets of one or moreparameters is detected; applying the another one or more sets of one ormore parameters to the second original image to generate one or morepre-view images of the second document; and generating a scanning imageof the second document based at least in part on the one or morepre-view images of the second document.